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Whither Bundelkhand package?
- “Bundelkhand package? It never reached anywhere except in the pockets of the officers and contractors.” This is the standard reply one gets on queries over the ambitious Rs. 7,266 crore special package announced by the Planning Commission for this backward drought-prone region of Uttar Pradesh.
- Announced in 2009, the package was meant for the overall development of the region spread across districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh — collectively known as the Bundelkhand region — and was to be implemented over three financial years between 2009-10 and 2011-12.
- Of this amount, Rs. 3,506 crore was meant for seven districts in U.P. and the remaining for development of six districts bordering M.P.
- A substantial chunk of the money was to be allotted for the already existing schemes of watershed management, irrigation, drinking water, animal husbandry and environment.
- Diseased goats were distributed by the State government under the livelihood scheme of the package that, instead of helping the poor farmer, resulted in the death of his own cattle as the infection spread
- 6,000 wells were dug up across the district but these collapsed within a few months because money was exhausted in digging and no funds were released to upgrade them.
- Bundelkhand package could well be the biggest scandal
- The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) is the nodal agency created under the Planning Commission to release the funds under the Bundelkhand package.
- According to the NRAA, a review of the Bundelkhand package showed that only 16.57 per cent of the total allocation has been spent so far in Uttar Pradesh and 21.70 per cent in Madhya Pradesh over the past two years. The package is now expected to be extended by the Planning Commission.
M.P. Special Courts Bill gets presidential nod
- The Madhya Pradesh Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam (Madhya Pradesh Special Courts Bill) 2011 has received the presidential assent and will come into force on February 15, 2012.
- The anti-corruption act equips the government with wide-ranging powers to weed out corruption, including the power to confiscate illegally earned properties of corrupt officials and use them as public assets. A similar law is already in force in Bihar.
- Under the Act, special courts dealing with corruption cases will be set up at Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Indore. Each of these cities will have two such courts, which will try cases related to amassing of disproportionate wealth/property by public servants.
- The Act prescribes a time-limit of one year for the trial of anti-corruption cases.
- This is the second Bill from the State to receive presidential assent this year, the first being the controversial anti-cow slaughter legislation.
We are not against all industries: Maoist leader
- Dispelling the general perception that the CPI(Maoist), the left wing extremist outfit, is opposed to all industrial projects, Odisha-based top red leader Sabyasachi Panda said going all out against industries would shatter the livelihood of labourers.
- “Communism always gives priority to the working class. If all industrial projects and mining operations are brought to a halt, labourers will suffer,”
- He said: “We are closely watching industrial development in the State. As a matter of fact we have decided to oppose alumina projects. As alumina refineries cause pollution and displace poor tribals… these types of project need to be opposed.”
Quraishi takes complaint against Khursheed to President
- Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi has written a strong letter to President Pratibha Patil complaining against Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khursheed for challenging the Commission on the “nine per cent sub-quota for minorities issue” even after being censured by it.
- Mr. Quraishi sought her “immediate and decisive” intervention to ensure that the Election Commission (EC) discharged its functions and duties in accordance with the Constitution and law
- The President has forwarded the complaint to the Prime Minister's Office for “appropriate action.”
- Mr. Khursheed, said that he would pursue the line of his earlier announcement (on 9 per cent sub-quota within 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in jobs and education) irrespective of what the EC directed.
Bribing of voters to be made a cognisable offence
- The Union Law Ministry has reportedly accepted a proposal of the Election Commission to amend the law to make bribing of voters, in cash or kind, a cognisable offence.
- It would also apply to those who take bribes. With the amendment, law enforcing agencies would have arresting power.
- According to Section 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, acceptance of money to vote is a corrupt practice
- Money power and muscle power are the two issues which worry the Commission and due to intensive and proactive action taken by the poll body in curbing movement of illegal money in the election areas, the muscle power or violence, too, has come down as no anti-social or unscrupulous elements indulge in trouble making unless they get money
